Governor helps kick off 161st Ohio State Fair

Associated PressPublished: July 23, 2014 11:31AM

Columbus — It’s time for the Ohio State Fair.
The annual event kicks off Wednesday in Columbus. The new attractions this year include a bear show, a gymnastics and dance performance on horseback, and foods such as the sloppy donut, banana dog, chicken dog and funnel cake sundae.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich will join general manager Virgil Strickler in opening ceremonies. Kasich then will tour parts of the fairgrounds with his wife, Karen, and their twin 14-year-old daughters, Emma and Reese. Ohio’s governor routinely opens the event, but it is unusual to make it a family affair.
Kasich is seeking re-election this year. He faces Democrat Ed FitzGerald, the Cuyahoga County executive in Cleveland.
This is the 161st year for the fair.
Admission Wednesday is $3 before 3 p.m.